TNAG-1451-FCO40-1955-Hong-Kong-Regional-Council-Ordinance-and-elections-1986 — Page 4

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Written Answers

24 MARCH 1986

to include wild animals. However, there are other statutes which provide protection for particular species, for example, deer and badgers. The course which the Government adopted in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 was to give special protection and to extend it where appropriate to certain species which were thought to be in

need of it.

Hedgehogs

Mr. Freud asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the present law protecting animals as it relates to preventing cruelty to hedgehogs; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor: We do not have any plans to extend the scope of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to include wild animals. Schedule 6 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 contains restrictions on the killing of hedgehogs.

Crime Prevention

Mr. Peter Thomas asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further initiatives he proposes to take in the field of crime prevention.

Mr. Hurd: Much work is already in hand following the crime prevention seminar hosted by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in January. But it is important that the momentum is not lost and I have therefore established a ministerial group to be chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, with the following terms of reference:

"To carry forward the Government's strategy for preventing crime and the fear of crime by reducing opportunities that exist for crime to occur, and to create confidence within the community that crime can be reduced, having particular regard

to:

(i) developing proposals for the more effective imple-

mentation of that strategy; and

(ii) the arrangements within and outside of government for the co-ordination, development and implementation of initiatives.

The Group shuld take such action as it considers necessary and report on its work".

The success of any initiative on crime prevention depends to a great extent on public support and involvement, and the group will also seek to heighten public awareness.

The group will include Ministers and officials from the following Departments: Her Majesty's Treasury; Northern Ireland Office; Scottish Office; Welsh Office: Department of Education and Science; Department of Employment; Department of Energy; Department of Trade and Industry; Department of Health and Social Security; Department of the Environment; Department of Transport.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Hong Kong

Mr. Eastham asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's title to Victoria Island and Kowloon, respectively, distinguishing if necessary between different parts of Kowloon; whether the title to any part of these two areas is held with any limit of time; and if he will make

a statement.

was ceded in

Mr. Renton: The island of Hong Kong perpetuity to the Crown in 1842; the Kowloon peninsula,

Written Answers

342

south of Boundary street, was also ceded as a dependency of Hong Kong in 1860. The remainder of Kowloon was included in the 99-year lease granted in 1898. In accordance with the joint declaration of the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China, the United Kingdom will restore the whole of Hong Kong to China with effect from 1 July 1997.

Mr. Adley asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will tabulate the results of the recent elections in Hong Kong by listing in declining order the total number of votes case for each candidate, the percentage of votes cast in each case, for each candidate in the relevant seat, the turnout in the seat, and which candidate was, and was not, elected.

Mr. Renton: It has not been possible in the time available to obtain from the Governor of Hong Kong the information requested. I will write to my hon. Friend with details as soon as possible and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Nicaragua

Mr. Beith asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the United States Government concerning American foreign policy towards Nicaragua.

Mr. Eggar: As my right hon. and learned Friend said in reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Meadowcroft) on 5 February, at column 267, we support the Contadora process: we obviously take steps to ensure that the United States is aware of our views. We want to see Nicaragua commit itself fully to the Contadora principles.

Contras (Central America)

Mr. Dubs asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statements have been made by the Government in the last three years concerning the activities of the Contras in Central America and their financing.

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Mr. Eggar: We have made it clear on many occasions, and most recently in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Leeds. West (Mr. Meadowcroft) on 5 February at column 267, that we do not believe the problems of the region can b<resolved by armed force. We support a negotiatedœflernent torkt6|ŠTRY basis of the Contadora principles.

3 0 MAY 1986

Anglo-Irish Agreement Dɛ3«K OFFICER

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Mr. A. Cecil Walker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the

course of negotiations on the Anglo-Irish agreement be held discussions with the Prime Minister or Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ireland on the substance of the proposed agreement. in the context of discussions with other European Economic Community member

states.

Sir Geoffrey Howe: I held a number of discussions with Irish Ministers about the Anglo-Irish agreement. No other EC member state was involved or represented in any

of these discussions.

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